is God within or beyond the Universe?
I asked a close friend who is Christian in an authentic, non-cultish, embracing God's presence way. She responded "Why does it matter?" My daughter answered "It's about what we shape our lives around." As for child with parent, knowing who we depend upon, and how to be rightly rooted in this foundational relationship matters.
Often I enjoy a song, but have no idea who wrote or sings it. But what if the composer is singing personally to me? Then it's important to know the source, to understand the meaning, to respond. What if the song is the universe and the composer is God?
Did the Creator of all speak to Moses in sound and light witnessed by millions of Israelites who had recently been miraculously delivered from slavery and death?
If not... all of Judaisam and Christianity is based on a fairy tale.
If so... WOW!
כִּי אִלּוּ בְּמֹשֶׁה הֶאֱמַנְתֶּם,
גַּם בִּי הֱיִיתֶם מַאֲמִינִים,
שֶׁכֵּן מֹשֶׁה כָּתַב עָלַי.
הכרזת יוחנן ה:מו
For if you believed Moses,
you would believe me,
because Moses wrote about me.
John 5:46
Jews are often referred to as the Chosen People. Chosen for what? Chosen to know God and make HaMakor (TheSource) known to the world.
God of the Bible is infinite, immaterial, and unchanging yet somehow personal: Beyond space and time, Source of energy and matter, Creator of the universe, Designer of spiritual and material realms, supervising everywhere always, One in essence, King of all, loving Father.
Or is the Universe self-creating, intrinsically intelligent, spontaneously generating evolving life, an ocean of consciousness in which we are drops...?
One of my best friends has traveled to India many times. In healing encounters and meditation, she experiences "light, love, joy, presence, vibrations within silence, place of pure peace and connectedness." Sensing "divine right order," her motivation is to contribute to the "growth and evolution of our expanding universe of consciousness."
Another friend was a Christian pastor until he became disillusioned with the doctrines, businesses, and cults of organized religion. He now believes that "to be spiritual is to take in each breath of life itself as a gift, and to live daily with intention, kindness, and awareness." In response to my big question, he is agnostic, calmly open.
A new friend encourages me to develop spirituality by resting in simply being, empty and free. He describes overcoming fears through observing rather identifying with thoughts and emotions. Yet is this spiritual or psychological? Many find similar relief from anxiety through Xanax.
A surfer friend expresses "I'm a believer... in something more than asphalt. I find my strength in mother earth, mother ocean, and some very good friends on this planet."
But the ocean and earth did not create me. They do not know or care about me. Of course we each have the right to our own beliefs. But my believing something does not make it true. There is ultimate Truth, actual Reality, even if the truth is that much of what we consider reality is illusion. We all live by our stories and tend to filter what we perceive through what we already believe.
my big question includes:
is there a Being Beyond the universe, Creator and Sustainer of all?
if so, did this Source speak the Word, inspire the Bible?
are we designed with purpose, for personal relationship with Eternity?
The One God who we know through the Bible both creates and permeates the life force; our Source is simultaneously beyond the universe and intimately present in all. Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) derives insights from the Word which resonate with discoveries of quantum physics; Torah and science agree on fundamental interconnectedness, paradox, incomprehensibility, and uncertainty within subatomic particles and dimensions surpassing space and time.
Calls to justice, love, humility, forgiveness, joy, and peace are central in the Bible. It's possible that my spiritual but not religious friends are on a harmonious and more universal path, becoming aware observers present in the now rather than minds dwelling on past and future, able to tune in directly to the divine. We fully agree that it is good to let go of baggage, surrender to a greater power, focus on higher intentions, be part of something bigger.
The difference is that I depend on the Word to plug into Eternity, to connect with compassion beyond my capability, to transcend my self. There's just not enough wisdom within me; I need guidance and care, revelation from Beyond, faith in the Source who I thank for the beautiful gift of life.
ט֗וֹב לְהֹד֥וֹת לַיהֹוָ֑ה
וּלְזַמֵּ֖ר לְשִׁמְךָ֣ עֶלְיֽוֹן
תהילים צב:ב
It is good to give thanks to HaShem,
and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High!
Psalms 92:2
Through the Word, I know the Creator by name and attributes, purpose and provision, prose and poetry... I walk with HaShem (TheName) through this journey of spirit in body... listening to silence and music, learning to truly hear...
הַרְפּ֣וּ
וּ֭דְעוּ כִּֽי־אָנֹכִ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים
אָר֥וּם בַּ֝גּוֹיִ֗ם
אָר֥וּם בָּאָֽרֶץ
תהילים מו:יא
"Be still,
and know that I am God;
I will be exalted in the nations;
I will be exalted in the earth."
Psalms 46:11
so another way to ask
my big ?
who is this I who will be exalted?
who is God?
is it me?
is it the Universe?
or is it Source?
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